Islamic call to prayer played from clock tower

The Miami Hurricane ^ | 3/27/08 | Farah Dosani // Contributing News Writer

[JCG]

Muslims students at the University of Miami have organized for the Islamic call to prayer, broadcasted each Friday afternoon this month from Richter Library's clock tower in commemoration of Islamic Awareness Month.

The call to prayer, or Adhan, is spoken in Arabic and is meant to resonate throughout the area.

"It serves as constant reminder of when we have to pray, because prayer itself is a reminder of our religion and how we practice it," said Selima Jumarali, the vice president of the organization.

According to the teachings of Islam, Muslims are to pray five times a day. In Muslim-majority countries, the call is usually performed live by an individual and is heard before every prayer.

Friday afternoon was chosen as the time to play the call because "it revolves around the day of congregational prayer," Jumarali said. Like Saturday for Jews or Sunday for Christians, Friday "holds strong significance for Muslims," she said.

Outside the library last Friday, students listened during the three-minute recording.

Kaleena Salgueiro said that although she could not understand the words in Arabic, the call was "pretty" and "very melodic." She said it reminded her of chanting in a monastery.

Razan Alif, who is Muslim, was also sitting outside and heard the prayer call.

"You always hear church bells ringing, but you never feel the existence of the Muslim community on campus," she said.

When asked whether they thought the Friday prayer call should be continued even after the month, many replied "why not?"

Regardless, Jumarali expressed her gratitude toward the administrators for allowing this expression to be displayed.

"It brings true variety to the university and open appreciation to diversity, especially in these times when people have misunderstandings of Muslims and who we are," she said.

Farah Dosani may be contacted at f.dosani1@umiami.edu.

[JCG]

Oh, the Adhan isn't so bad - just ask...

 

Obama: Man of the World
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: March 6, 2007

Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to
prayer, reciting them with a first-rate accent. In a remark that
seemed delightfully uncalculated [...], Mr. Obama described the
call to prayer as "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at
sunset."

http://select.nytimes.com/2007/03/06/opinion/06kristof.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
http://nevadathunder.com/?p=3626




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Send treats to the troops...
Great because you did it!
www.AnySoldier.com

[The Sons of Liberty]

I never liked the U of Miami mainly because their sports teams have been, and remain a bunch of hooligans. Now I see what influenced them - the “religion of peace”.

[massgopguy]

Bells aren’t a problem because they don’t prostlytise. Many hymns are even written to other tunes. Green Sleaves comes to mind. But the Muslim call to paryer states that there is no god but allah.

[SE Mom]

In keeping with this cultural sensitivity, I’m sure they’ll also be celebrating Matins and Daven and so on, correct?

[Mr. Mojo]

....in commemoration of Islamic Awareness Month.

Indeed, many Americans need to become aware of Islam.

[caseinpoint]

Well, as opposed to the 7th century, we in the 21st Century have these nifty little devices called “watches”. Try them. And does the call recognize daylight savings time?

[TexasCajun]

Under Liberal interpertation of "Seperation of Church & State " the university should lose all its federal funding.

[GourmetDan]

""It serves as constant reminder of when we have to pray, because prayer itself is a reminder of our religion and how we practice it," said Selima Jumarali, the vice president of the organization."

Were they truly focused on their relationship with God, they would be in a constant attitude of prayer and would not need a 'reminder' every time they are required to pray. Were they truly focused on their relationship with God, they would be praying as prompted by God throughout the day.

This demonstrates that the moslem religion is merely a set of mechanical acts that do not change the heart. That much is obvious from their behavior and confirmed by their religious rules.

[TCats]

""It serves as constant reminder of when we have to pray"

More accurately described as "Mind control". I've lived in several Muslim dominated countries and it is more peer pressure and a constant deluge of the religion to the point it inserts itself into every waking minute of the practitioner's life.

Other religions have similar tools to enforce 'Faith' but Islam is alone in the imposition of these types of thought control type of mandates.

[goodwithagun]

As a fan of the U, I must point out that there are many other schools who have players that commit serious offenses. I also think that it is a shame to see such a great school with phenomenal academic programs go to hell. Perhaps we can blame Donna Shalala?

[weegee]

Muslims students at the University of Miami have organized for the Islamic call to prayer, broadcasted each Friday afternoon this month from Richter Library's clock tower in commemoration of Islamic Awareness Month.

A public school making prayer announcements???

Surely the ACLU will... take a vacation and skip out because it isn't those horrible Christians.

[massgopguy]

Bingo!

[American Quilter]

Bells aren’t a problem because they don’t prostlytise. Many hymns are even written to other tunes. Green Sleaves comes to mind. But the Muslim call to paryer states that there is no god but allah.

That's an excellent point.

[I still care]

“many replied “why not?”

How about, because the call to prayer states there is no God but Allah, and I find it highly insulting.

If Christians are forbidden to pray “in Jesus’s Name” at functions (and by the way, Christians are also to “pray without ceasing”, not just five times a day) I certainly don’t see why this should be allowed.

[dfwgator]

What do you expect with Donna Shalala as their President?

[weegee]

“It serves as constant reminder of when we have to pray, because prayer itself is a reminder of our religion and how we practice it,” said Selima Jumarali, the vice president of the organization.

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5 times a day and they still need a reminder. I eat meals generally 3 times a day and I don’t need to hear a dinner bell ring from a bell tower to remember.

How much of this is to also call the Kufir to prayer?

[cameraeye]

May our God help us! This is just the begining of something that will be demanded by every mooslips in America very soon. The call to prayer is just the first step to getting the American people used to the sound that B. Hussien says is so pretty. Well I don’t like it and I want to hear the broadcast state that it is not intended to convert Christian’s or another other religion to them after each screech. That will give me more nightmares. If you believe that, Barack’s middle name is Hussien. “Sempre Fi” to my brother and nephew, keeping us free everyday.

[weegee]

Who wants to hear this Islamic proclamation broadcast from 6am-10pm 5 times a day EVERY day?

[jusduat]

Also, where the call to prayer goes out across the land, it is muslim land and will forever be. Big mistake and
foolish to not realize how they think.